Vinson was charged with trafficking opium, obtaining controlled substance by fraud, obtaining property by false pretense, possession with intent to sell and deliver controlled substance, maintaining a vehicle (to store the controlled substance), and identity theft. All of the charges are felonies.

White, who launched the investigation on Oct. 1, made the arrest during a traffic stop in Ahoskie.

Ahoskie Police Major Jimmy Asbell said the case remains under investigation. Due to that fact, not a lot of other information could be shared with the media, but he did, when asked how Vinson obtained the controlled substance, say, “the suspect used a doctor’s information to fraudulently obtain the prescriptions.” The name of the doctor was not disclosed.

“We, along with other law enforcement agencies throughout the nation, are seeing an increase in these types of cases where fraud is used to obtain prescription medication,” Asbell said. “The good news is that law enforcement agencies, pharmacies and pharmaceutical manufacturers have begun an effort to see how we can address this growing epidemic of cases.”

According to the North Carolina Board of Nursing’s website, Vinson holds an active Multi-State license as a Registered Nurse. She was licensed as an RN on July 17, 2007. There were no previous charges or disciplinary action pending against Vinson by the state Nursing Board as of the last update of its website on Oct. 17.